Iran Payment Was Leverage, Not Ransom

Regarding the Aug. 19 article "$400M, Release By Iran Linked" [Page 1], and the implication drawn by critics of President Obama that the U.S. paid ransom for the release of hostages being held by Iran.

If we had given our money to the Iranians to release the hostages, that would have been paying ransom. Instead, we gave the Iranians their own money that we had been holding for decades. Returning this money to Iran was part of the deal for them to halt development of nuclear weapons.

Had we had returned their money without them first releasing the hostages, then there would be much reason for complaint.